Security Forces Launch Final Offensive Against Naxal Threat Ahead of March 31 Deadline
With less than one week remaining until the Central government's March 31 deadline to eradicate left wing extremism, security forces across India have initiated a series of intensified, large-scale operations in key Maoist-affected regions. The objective is clear: track down the remaining armed cadres and secure their surrender through strategic engagements.
Neutralization Strategy and Operational Details
A top commander from the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) revealed to PTI that the plan is to ensure "100 per cent neutralisation of armed Naxals by March 31", a deadline publicly announced by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. This will be achieved either through direct encounters or by facilitating surrenders. Significant operations are being executed during these final 5-6 days of the countdown.
Security agencies are currently tracking approximately 130-150 armed cadres, which include two central committee members of the banned CPI (Maoist) organization and several divisional-rank operatives. In a coordinated effort, about three to four CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) units of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) are being relocated from Chhattisgarh to Jharkhand. Their mission is a special operation in the dense Saranda forests of West Singhbhum district, targeting Misir Besra alias Bhaskar and his associates.
Multi-State Operations and Force Redeployment
In Chhattisgarh's Bastar region, teams from the CRPF, Border Security Force (BSF), and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) are being strategically repositioned with the explicit aim of engaging armed Maoist cadres in gunbattles or compelling their surrender. Additionally, a cross-border operation involving the states of Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Odisha is currently in development, according to official sources.
Notably, Rammanna, also known as Ganapathi or Laxman Rao, is reportedly in communication with Telangana Police and may surrender by the March 31 deadline. Concurrently, the Centre is preparing a comprehensive "operations and development" blueprint. This plan is expected to include the withdrawal of about five CAPF battalions from these regions and the launch of multiple welfare schemes to support local development.
Withdrawal Plans and Regional Assessments
An officer disclosed that approximately three battalions of the BSF, along with a sector office led by a DIG-rank officer, are anticipated to withdraw from Koraput district and adjoining areas in Odisha. The sector office may relocate to Kandhamal district within the state, while the battalions could be reassigned to border guarding duties or to Manipur, depending on situational requirements.
Some CAPF battalions from Chhattisgarh will also be withdrawn, with an official announcement expected on March 31. State police forces and the Chhattisgarh District Reserve Guard (DRG) will subsequently take over the CAPF camps. Chhattisgarh Home Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma declared in Jagdalpur on Wednesday that nearly 96 per cent of Bastar's vast geographical area is now free from Naxal influence.
De-mining Exercises and Official Data
Sources indicated that CAPFs and state police forces have been instructed to conduct joint "de-mining" exercises to locate hidden Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and bombs in regions affected by Naxal violence. In February, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) conducted a fresh review of Naxal violence-affected areas and officially notified that the number of left wing extremism (LWE)-hit districts in the country has been reduced to seven.
These seven districts are:
- Bijapur, Narayanpur, Sukma, Kanker, and Dantewada in Chhattisgarh
- West Singhbhum in Jharkhand
- Kandhamal in Odisha
The nine states categorized as LWE-affected are Jharkhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana, and West Bengal. According to official data, during 2005-06, a total of 76 districts across these nine states were impacted by LWE, highlighting the significant progress made in recent years.
Historical Context and Government Resolve
Home Minister Amit Shah has consistently asserted that the LWE menace, once described as India's biggest internal security challenge in 2010, will be conclusively addressed by this March. He characterizes Naxal violence as a direct challenge to democracy, noting that it has claimed approximately 17,000 lives of civilians and security personnel to date.
The Naxalite movement originated in India in 1967 at Naxalbari, a village in West Bengal situated at the tri-junction of India, Nepal, and Bangladesh. The current operations represent a critical phase in the government's long-standing campaign to restore peace and stability in these regions.
